Organ-tuner&#39;s keyboard-player.



M. J. OLSON.

0mmA TUNER'S Hyman PLAYER.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 12, 1910.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

"i .Ill

WMM @Qwmw M. J", OLSON. @man TUNBR'S KEYBQARD PLAYER.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.12, 1910 Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

*Mft-m M. J. OLSUN. ORGAN TUNER'S KEYBOARD PLAYER. APPLICATION FILEDNOV.12, 1910.

`1,051,156. Patelrlted Jan.21, 1913 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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Mfafwgg@ pairing of organs.

nrrsn striitrns PATENT onirica MARTIN i. onsonmr ISHPEMING, MICHIGAN. f

, onsam'runnws KEYBOARD-PLAYER. i

Speccatioii of Letters Patent.

Players of'which' .the following is a specitication, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.- *The purpose ot'this invention is to pro.-A vide means oroperating the keys of a pipeorgan or similar musical instrument at a distance ron'i thekeyboard,^be1ng particularly intended for usefin the tuning andrelt'vconsists of the features described, and shown in the drawings, asindicated inthe claims. v

InYA the drawings- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of' the organ-keyactuating device. Fig. Q. is a sectional elevation of the switchf board.Fig.- 3 is a partial sectional plan View of the key-actuating devices.is theielectrical wiring diagram 'for the device. Fi 5 is a partialfront elevation of the switc i-board. Fig. 6 is a detail of the lockingdevice in operativeposition, the release position being indicated indotted lines.

Fig. 7 is awiring diagram .indicating the inode oi? connecting theseries of control magnets, 5, in a? common circuit with thestiolns-giving magnet, 10.

ln a pipe organ, as is well understood, the. parte requiring attentionfor tuning'are po sitioned Where the tuner cannot manipulate them and`at the same time reach the manual keys, andas constructed, many of thepipes are often far ,removed fromv the. key-board, being placed whereverspace is afforded for them in the building. Consequently, the tuning oisuch `organs at present involves the employment of a helper for.theskilled oigantuner,who shall, remain at the key board and operate thekeys for sounding various noties as required by the tuner. The

present device .is designed to dispense'with 'the services of suoliahelper, since it pro vides means electrically connecting the organkey-hoard with an operating key-board at any dist-ance to which anelectric current can be eihciently conducted.

lriefiy, the device consists of two mechameiner-vizi: anelectro-magnetically-operated actuating mechanism designed to be mountedover the organ keyboard for actu` i, ation ot the organ keys, and astiucture of" with the upper-edge,

cuit through the solenoid the nature cfa switch-board to resemble theorganv key-board,-.that is, having' its switch keys made in theiform ofyorgan vkeys and arranged in similar order. 'A single flexible cable,made up of multiplicity of wires and of any desired'length, constit-utesthe electrical connectioli'1"y between these two mechanisms. y'

The key-operatingmechanism'will be irs't described. A series ofbell-oiankfstrikers,

1, having horizontal and vertical'am`s,and

fulcrumed in bifurcated bri'icket's,-2,l secured to the main housing,y3, 'of' the'-niechanism, arepositioned with their horizontalflarms, l,extending respectively over the keys A of the manual of an organ, insubstantially the kposition assumed by-the fngersoiivt-he performer. Tothe vertical arm'llof; each bellcrank is coupled a thrust rod,"4.ffhaving a soft-iron armature, 4, secured to, its under side. Directlyunder this I afnia'tuie is mounted an electro-magnet 5,.esign"d todraw-tlie rod downwardtwhen tthe tiii'cuit is closed, such movementbeingresisted by a spring 4 `on the rod. .5 An actuator for the strikersinthe form of a bar, ,6,Heiztending throughout 'the lengtlioftliei'oigaiii" keyboard,and mounted in an approximately verticalposition, is liiiilcrumedat,l 6 near its lower`edge,' andn connetedb"fia link 7 and bell crank 8 to the armatures9, 9, of stroke-givingelectro-magnets, '10,1'0, inounted exteriorly on the inainlliousi'iig'f.These stroke giving electro #magnets "10", 10, are preferably, but notnecessarily,ofthe solenid type, so'that their' armatur'esfi), 9, areplungers. Downward movement off the rod 4, under the influence ofitsrmagneb, brings its freer end, 4, in position' fonencounter 6b, 'oftheactuator bar 6,' when the latter is' rocked; about its fulcium. Thuseach of the rods,-.4l," constitutes a disengageable connector fortransmitting the movement; of the baizg;A togone of the key strikers,and except-when they'are under the inliuencer of theirrespectivemagnets, 5, these rods are biasedoutot connect-ing positionby' means of their springsylb." The electrical switch devicesaiesoarranged that the magnet- 5 is firstenergized'tddraw the `rod 4,-corresponding to ,any key which. is

to be operated,into posit-ion foi" suchencounter, and almostsimpltaneously, the cirsi1'0`l0; is closed,

ihry il,

causingl movement lofy th andI yoli the Y moto PatentedJaaaigieis.appncation'iea november 12, 1910. seriai No. 591,956. 'A

chanical connections above noted. In this way, the bell-crank-striker 1is rocked suiciently to depress the organ key for sounding the notedesired.

The amount of angular'swin of the actuating striker 1 maybe varied ychanging the osition of a sto rail 11, shown adjustalbly connected withe top of the housmg, and secured by a set screw 12 at the limit ofdepression o f the organ key. As the striker ap roaches this limit apaw] 13, biased upwar .by its 'spring 13'^ snaps into osition toengagethevlocbar 14 which, Pike the motor bar 6, is of substantially thesaine length as the 4or an key-board. The.

electrical circuit 'may t en Ybe opened without releasing the organ key,so that a sustained note may be produced without dra'inf ing the sourceof electrical energy, which, for cheapness and convenience, wouldusually be :f the portable cell type One or more ke, s having been thusheld locked in depress position as long as required by the tuner, theirrelease is effected byv clos ing the circuit through a magnet 15, whichoperates similarly to the .a ove-described magnets, but to move a thrustlinkl, provided with an armature 16, and pivoted to a rocker arm 17,rigidly secured to the lock bar 14. The switch-key used for closing thecircuit of themagnet 15 is arranged similarly tothe above describedswitch keys for also closing the circuit for energizing the solenoids10, 10, so that as soon as the ,thrust link ..16 hasbeen brought intoposition ,for .en'onnter taf/,its proecting tooth 16b with the upperedge 6" of te motor bar 6, said bar is actuated asv before, but thistime to rock the edge 14"- of the lock bar 14 out of engagement with theawl or pawls 13 engaged with it. Thestrikers, 1, being thus releasedfrom their depressed position, rock back to their initial posit-ion,allowing the organ keys to follow, and shut oi the pipes which theycontrol.- IIt may be understood that while a separate .thrust rod 4 andmagnet 5 are required to correspond with each key of the organkey-board, only a sin gle link 16 a`nd magnet '15 are necessary forrelease.A A number of organ keys may be successively depressed, andsince each is locked in depressed position, a chord may bc thusproduced, if desired, Abut all the keys will be released by a singlemovement of the release switch key. After their operation, the lock bar14 and thrust link 16 are returned to normal. position by theirrespective springs 14 and 16 As already stated, the operating keys ofthe electrical switch-board controlling the device may be made in theform of an organ' manual, so that the operator has nothing new to learnin addition to his knowledge of the organ. This dummy manual may be ofconsiderably reduced dimensions, however, for convenience of use inclose @1arters; and even the resemblance to theogan key-board is notessential, since any form of switch-board with the switches marked toshow their correspondence to the keys of the organ may be employed. Asillustrated, the electrical contactsl are of the fiat sprin ,ty e, thisbeing comparatively cheap, an

e cient enough for use with the small cur rentobtainedfrom a fewportable dry cells. None of` the contact elements are secured to theiractuating key 18,but are mounted directly Iunder the latter, upon afoundation board, 19, insulating blocks, 20 and 21, being provided atthe secured ends, and a spacing block 22 between the free ends of themovable members 23'and 24. The s acng block, 25, is' also providedbetween tie stationary contact members 26 and 27, to prevent other thanthe desired contacts. LA release switch, 28, of similar construction,'is shown mounted separately from the actuating switches' in the frontrail 29 of the frame. Since when the contact devices are made as shown,a single movement of the switch key closes two circuits, very slightpriorityof contact in one circuit as compared with the other cannot bedepended upon to avoid me chanical'confusion in the' actuatingmechanism. For this reason, a certain amount of lost motion ispreferably introduced in the connections of the motor bar, 6,andconncting thrust bars 4 and 16, so that the I latter .will certainly bedrawn downward by their coitrollin "magnets before the motor barrnove(into position .for encounter wah-metete ef said thrust bm has beenbrought,ii1t"acton;"that is, the operations are renderedconcurrentrather than strictly simultaneous, l, v.

At one end, the foundation board 19" is clips' 30, arran cable, and eacproperly connecte with some contact member of the switch-board.Coperatin plug pins 31 are similarly are ranged Ian mounted in aremovable board 32, and wires from thc respective pins form a cable 33which is led out from thc board 32 to the key-actuating mechanismmounted, as described, at the organ manual. At this cnd,"thc. cableenters a similar removable board.34, provided with plug-pins 35, towhich Ythe respective wires are connected, and which fit into a seriesof spring contact clips 36,1nountcd on the housing 3 of saidkey-actuating mechanism, and electrically connected with theirrespective magnets. Proper connections from the solcnoids 10, l0, andthe smaller magnets 5 and 15, with their respective batteries, indicatedin the wiring diagram only, complete the list of the parts necessary tothe operation of the device.

I n Fi" 0 there is shown an index button,

i gdad disconnected battery cells.

vf'apparatus is readily portable, and becomesa ."1. A device tomato i3T, carried in an inverted T-slot in the cas ing of the .switchfboardmanual, and slidnble therein' throughout lthe length 'of said main`y`1`1"al.\ This button may lbe setvopposite the gswitclnkeycorresponding tothe organ note shown The two principal memberso-f theapparatus-wiz: the key-actuating mecha .,anism mounted inthe mainhousing. 3, and

15 the, dummy key-board with its' switch 5fconneActions .mountedA on thefoundation .board 19, are. conveniently made of substantially the samehorizontal dimensions, Aso hat vthey may belassembled for carrying,

o v,back to back, im a case whose depth, being substantially the sum ofthe heights :of said .v I,tivo principal members, will 'accommodate theremaining' space the cable with its m erminal plug boards` and thedetached legs Thus, the

part ofthe tuners regular working lequipment. nl clairns-n y for thepurpose indicated' com prising, a plurality of-key strikers arranged forregistration, respectively, with the.k keys Iof a keyboard, an actuator,a notor operatively connected therewith, a disengagesble connectorcorresponding to each striker adapted to transmit movement theretofromlthe actuator and standing normally out of connecting position, amotor-device corresponding to each connector and arranged for moving itinto connecting position, a dummy manual having a plurality of keyscorresponding, respectively, to the aforesaid strikers, and connectionscontrolled by` said keys for energizing "their respective motor devicesand the actuator motor.

2. A device for the purpose indicated com# prising, a series ofkeystrikers arranged and adapted to engage the respective Ikeys otrakeyboard, an actuator, a disengageable connector lfor each strikeradapted to transmit movement from. theactluator to said strike and'standingqnormally out of connecting position, a series of manualcontrol keys separately and selectively operable at will, andconnect-ions therefrom to the actuator and to the respective connectorswhereby each key .is adapted) for concurrently eiecting movcvment etconnector into connecting position an anrcment of the actuator for op-'f eration o frresponding striker. A. der in he purpose indicatedcomprising, a series ot key strikers varranged and ada ted to engage therespeetiveykeys el a key card, an'act-uator, a disengage'able e 'mentor'-for each striker adapted to transstriker and :standing normally' outol" con; knecting position, a motor, operativelyconmoving each connectorinto connecting positron, and a' series of manual control Akeys eachjconnected with the connectorfinoving means for one connector and withthe motor, and adapted for concurrent-ly energizing said means and themotor, respectively.

4, A device vfor the 'urpose indicate comprisin ','ar series of eyAstrikers' arranged and a apted to engage t e respective keys of fa"keyboard, an actuator, a disengages'ble i connector for each strikeradapted to trans- ;mit movement from the actuator to such striker, amotor operatively connec d with the' actuator, means yieldingly-holdmgeach connectorl out of connecting position,'a series of electro-magnetseach positioned for ting position, a series of manual control magnets,respectively, to the motor adapting each key for concurrently energizingone'of said magnets and the motor, respectively.-

5. A device for the purpose indicated com prising, a keystriker adaptedto engagb key of a tion, an electromagnet f and an armature actuator, asecond electromagnet arranged. for drawing the connector into connectinposition, a manually operable controllerv an connections. forconcurrently energizing said magnets.

6. A device for the purpose indicated comprisino, a key striker adaptedto engagea key o -a keyboard, a motor device, means adapted to transmitmovement therefrom to thestriker' for depressionv of the latter, a

ingl'y 'forcing the pawl into engagement with the said abutment 'when'the striker is in depressed position, and means for ener gizi the motorat will. f

i striker is, depressed position, means i adapted for releasing' thestriker from said drawing one o the connectors into connect-p thereforoperativelyjconnected to move the niit'movement from the actuator to thenected with-,thei-actuator,'separate means for separatelyand'selectively operable at will, v

keys separately and selectively operable at will, and connections fromsaid keys to said.

keyboard," anaetuator, a disengago A able connector adapted transmitxrfovew ment from the actuatorA to the strikerl and' standing'normallyvout'of connect-ing posi-V .y

pawl and an abutment, adapted to cooperate therewith, one of saidelements bein'g carried by the striker, means 'for yield- 7. .A devicefor the purpose indicated ooml1an prising, a. key striker adapted toengage a ey of a keyboard, Van actuator, a disengageable connectoradapted to transmit movement from the actuator to depress the strikerand standing normally out of connecting position, a locking pawl and anabutment adapted to coperate therewith, one of saidelements beingcarried by the striker, means for yieldingly forcing the pawl intoengagement with the said abutment when the striker is in depressed osition, means for releasing` the striker rom said lock, including adisengageable connector adapted to transmit movement from the aforesaidactuator, and controlling devices connected, respectively, to the saiddisengageable connectors "and to the actuator, each manually operable atwill and arranged for effecting concurrently the movement of itsconnector into connecting position and the movement of the actuator.

9. A device for the purpose indicated com' prising, a key strikeradapted to engage a ey of a keyboard, means for depressing the striker,means for locking said striker in depressed position, comprising a pawlon the striker, a movable stop-rail positioned to device manuallyoperable at will and connections for concurrently effecting the movementof said connector into connect-ing posie tion and the movement of theactuator.

10. A device for the purposei'ndicated comprising, a key striker adaptedto engage a ey of a keyboard, means for depressing the striker, anautomatic lock adapted to retain the striker in depressed position,means for releasing the str1ker from said lock, including an actuatorand a disengageable connector adapted to transmit the movement of theactuator, an electrdmagnet arranged for drawing said connector intoconnecting position, a motor operatively connected" to the actuator, amanuell operable controlling device and oonneions for concurrentlyenlrgizing said magnet and said motor at w1 In testimon whereof, I havehereunto set my hand, at shpeming, Mich., in the presence of twowitnesses, this 9th day of Nov. 1910.

MARTIN J s OLSON.

Witnesses: i

GERHARD T. ALEXIS JOHN F. OLSON.

